Songs of Praise

Coptic Orthodox Christians (2019x40)

Uitzenddatum: Okt 06, 2019

Claire McCollum visits St George’s cathedral in Hertfordshire to meet members of the UK’s thriving Coptic Orthodox community and to discover how its roots can be traced all the way back to first-century Egypt. She meets archbishop Angaelos to discover how the Coptic Orthodox tradition fits in the worldwide family of the Church and what makes their worship unique. She learns that they have a pope and that the tradition was the cradle of monasticism. Claire also meets Fadi Mikhail, a young iconographer whose work can be seen in churches and cathedrals across the world. He explains the great significance of icons in worship and the deeply spiritual experience of creating them. In central London, young Coptic Orthodox Christians speak about putting their faith into action through the Coptic City Mission. Each week for the past 20 years the group has run a project to help the homeless, offering food, company and long-term support. And Laura Wright meets classical-crossover stars the Ayoub Sisters. She asks them about growing up in a Coptic Orthodox family in Glasgow and how the worship of their church influences their music today. The sisters then perform a beautiful arrangement of an Arabic hymn. With hymns and songs from across the UK celebrating the truths that unite the worldwide family of God.